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We were able to get quotes from PODS on various move distances. Some of the moves required only one container, while others required several containers. So, our list of quotes includes a mix of sizes and container counts.
Here are the quotes with and without insurance added on. At the bottom of the table, you'll see the highest quote we received, the lowest, and the median quote.
Lowest quote$848
Highest quote$13,040
Median quote$4,511
Quotes as of April 2024. Includes initial delivery, 1 month storage, transit, redelivery, CPO and COO ($50 each).
The lowest quote starts at $848, while the highest can reach up to $13,040. The median quote, which gives a better sense of a typical cost, is $4,511. This highlights that PODS pricing can vary significantly depending on the move’s distance, size, and specific needs.
The price for a 16ft pod is around $4,200 to $5,000 with PODS. This price is based on moving three bedrooms between 1,000 and 1,800 miles, so the cost could be more or less depending on how far you’re moving. The 16ft pod is the biggest option and should accommodate moving a three- or four-bedroom home.
PODS offers Pay-As-You-Go pricing and no tricks or extra fees. There's no need for a deposit, and you don't have to pay for your move upfront. When the company delivers the empty container to your house, you'll pay for that delivery. And when PODS picks up your container and takes it back to the store center, you'll pay for that, and then, of course, there's a monthly rental fee.
So if you get a container delivered to your house, and you decide that you're going to keep that container on your property for, let's say, six months, every month, you'll be billed a monthly rental fee.
There are also no penalties if you need to reschedule, and PODS doesn't charge based on weight. PODS provides upfront costs when you're going through the quoting process, and then you don't have to worry about that price changing based on whether you have more or fewer things in your containers.
From there, you have the choice of two coverage options when moving with PODS:
Data as of 7/15/2024. Pricing for US Contents Protection only and subject to change. Individuals should review their rental contract—including addendums—for a complete description of the policy’s terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Yes, a pod, or storage moving container, is typically cheaper than hiring a professional moving company. Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. With moving containers, or “pods,” you load up all your belongings, but the movers transport the container to your new home, so it’s not as expensive because you do some of the work.
The cheapest PODS option is the 8-foot pod, which costs an average of $848 for a local move of less than 150 miles. This price may vary based on the distance and specific services you need. The 8-foot pod is ideal for moving a one-bedroom home or studio apartment.
PODS can be a great option for local moves if you value flexibility and minimal driving, especially if you also need storage — but if you’re looking for the most budget-friendly choice and need a quick move, a rental truck might make more sense.
Here’s why it might work well:
However, there are a few downsides:
PODS was founded in 1998 in the Tampa Bay area in the city of Clearwater. Over the last 26 years, the company has completed around six million moves and around 1.8 million long-distance moves. They have a vast coast-to-coast service network that services 46 U.S. states (including Hawaii), as well as Washington, DC and six Canadian provinces. The four states that PODS doesn't service are Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
PODS is our pick for the number one moving container business. Some companies do certain things better. For example, U-Pack has coverage in 50 states (4 more than PODS). But no other company is near the front of the pack for so many reasons:
You can claim a Move.org discount
PODS has a special discount for Move.org readers. The company already has below-average prices, but they get even better with our special deal. The average customer saves around $400 with a PODS discount.For example, the average cost of moving with PODS is around $5,709. The price plummets approximately $600 after applying the discount.
That's money back in your pocket. The savings come in handy if you need to hire a mover by the hour to help with things like packing, moving boxes, or loading the PODS container.
PODS has the second-highest customer reviews in the moving container business. Our analysis of over 16,000 reviews from five different companies reveals that customers prefer PODS over virtually every container company. Customer reports repeatedly highlight PODS’ good prices, fast service, and friendly customer reps.
PODS can help you move no matter the distance. The real win here is the local availability. Virtually every moving company handles long-distance moves, but some don’t offer in-town options. That’s a pain if the company’s prices match your budget and features resonate with your moving situation, but you can’t hire it for the job.
Thankfully, PODS doesn’t make you sweat it out. The moving container company provides local and long-distance moving services.
PODS helps with more than containers
PODS also helps you set up your new home's utilities, get internet and cable services, change your driver's license, and more on their website.
PODS’ specialty is moving containers. The company is so well-known that some competitors violate the PODS® trademark by referring to moving containers as moving pods. It sets the industry standard in many ways.
Here’s how moving containers work:
Note:PODS can deliver containers to most homes. However, your PODS rep can help you ensure that you have enough space and that local HOA and city regulations allow for the delivery and storage of moving containers.
PODS hasthree container sizes. The smallest 8-foot option can fit belongings from a studio apartment. The company’s largest 16-foot portable storage container can often accommodate four-bedroom homes. And PODS’ 12-foot shipping container can fit up to three rooms for moves under 50 miles.
It's important to note that PODs will only move its 8- and 16-foot containers long-distance. The 12-foot containers are typically used for local storage or local moves within one particular area or market.
Containers often save you money because you do much of the work (like packing and loading). PODS handles the big stuff like container delivery, pickup, and transportation.
PODS also rents moving containers for storage purposes. Monthly fees vary but always come with the same flexible options:
It’s important to note that PODS has the best storage options in the country. Some companies offer only at-home or facility storage (PODS does both). Similarly, some container services keep your belongings at a storage center but won’t allow you to access them (PODS will). PODS even has climate-controlled storage facilities for sensitive items like photographs and books. You simply can’t find better portable storage options.
PODS has a special service for city dwellers
PODS' City Service is a specific perk for customers who are in really dense urban areas like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The company offers a specialized truck that will come with a PODS container to your house, apartment, condo, or wherever you live. The difference is the container stays on the truck.
You have four hours to load the container (a level lift operated by the driver will boost you and your belongings from the ground up to the container on the truck). The driver stays with the container for those four hours and watches over everything to keep you and your stuff safe.
PODS is expanding its City Service offering to five new markets. In addition to its 919 current locations, City Service was added to Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis, Montreal, and Tampa Bay in 2024.
PODS is one of the only moving container companies that offer auto transport services. It partners with an online marketplace (ACERTUS) where truck drivers bid on your shipment. While ACERTUS is a logistics platform different from the one used by the best car shipping companies, we suspect the price and quality are similar to what you see elsewhere.
PODS offers international moving services between Canada and the United States. It also has in-country moving container services in Australia and the United Kingdom. We recommend contacting one of our best international moving companies if you need to move to a country other than Canada.
We recommend PODS for local and mid-distance moves of all sizes. For a higher price, they offer long-distance. PODS beats the competition in nearly every category, including storage options, insurance, and generous discounts.
And the company has only gotten better with time. PODS rose from our third-place company in 2020 to our overall top pick in 2025. There are still issues with high prices for bigger interstate moves, but if you're moving within 500 miles, PODS pricing will likely be close to the rest of the industry.
Save with a PODS discount for Move.org readers
PODS stands for Portable on Demand Storage. The moving company is so popular that competitors sometimes violate its trademark by referring to generic storage containers as moving pods.
PODS costs about $5,709 for the average move. Prices are much lower for small local moves, while you can expect to fork out three times as much for big long-distance moves.
[PODS is betterthan U-Box. Both companies are industry leaders, but PODS has lower prices, higher quality, and better customer service.
Move.org follows a six-step process to identify the nation’s best moving container companies:
*Limited time offer, subject to change. Get an extra 10% off transportation with PODS. Must visit PODS from Move.org for extra discount. PODS is not currently available in these states: AK, MT, ND, WY, but IS available in D.C. and HI.
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For more than twenty years, Alina has been a meaningful contributor to numerous publications and outlets, including CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, Consumer Affairs, SafeWise, and many others. Her hobbies include fixing up her house in the country, doing artsy stuff, and going to the lake with her family.
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